AWKA, NIGERIA — The Anambra State Government and the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance have disagreed over a directive by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to display photographs of President Bola Tinubu on the First Niger Bridge, with opposition parties describing the move as sycophantic and unnecessary.
Umahi issued the directive on Friday during an inspection of maintenance work on the 1.404-kilometre bridge. He said the display would serve as recognition of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to rehabilitate the bridge following years of vandalism and neglect. The minister argued that President Tinubu deserved to be acknowledged for approving the funds that made the rehabilitation possible.
“The President approved this project, and he deserves to be recognised. Displaying his photograph on the bridge is a way of showing appreciation for his commitment to infrastructure development in the South-East and across the country,” Umahi stated.
The APGA Chairman in Anambra State, Ifeatu Obi Okoye, backed the minister’s decision, arguing that displaying photographs of government leaders was a normal practice at federal facilities. He said there was nothing wrong with recognising the President’s contributions to the rehabilitation of the bridge.
“It is a normal practice to display the photographs of leaders at federal projects. The President approved the project, and it is only right that he is acknowledged. This is not a political issue; it is about recognising the efforts of the government,” Obi Okoye said.
However, the Anambra State Government, through the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, said the state government should prioritise more significant matters instead of focusing on placing photographs on the bridge. He argued that the rehabilitation of the bridge was a federal responsibility and that the funds used were public funds, not the President’s personal money.
“The government should focus on more important issues. The bridge belongs to the Federal Government, and the rehabilitation is funded with public money. Placing the President’s photograph on the bridge is not a priority. What matters is that the bridge is safe and functional for the people,” Mefor stated.
Representatives of the African Democratic Congress and the Nigeria Democratic Congress also opposed the directive, describing it as sycophantic. They maintained that public funds were used for the rehabilitation and that such projects were part of the government’s responsibility to the people, not a personal favour from the President.
“This is sycophancy taken too far. The bridge was built with taxpayers’ money, and the rehabilitation is also funded with public money. The President does not need his photograph on the bridge to be recognised. What he needs to do is to ensure that the bridge is properly maintained and that the people benefit from it,” said an ADC chieftain in the state.
A lawyer, Chijioke Ndubuisi, also criticised the proposal, warning that placing the photographs on the bridge could affect its appearance. He said the bridge was a national monument and should not be used for political advertising.
“The First Niger Bridge is a national monument. It should not be used for political campaigns or for displaying the photographs of any individual. This is not about the President; it is about respecting our national monuments,” Ndubuisi said.
The controversy has sparked debate on social media, with many Nigerians expressing mixed reactions. Some supported the directive, arguing that it was a way of recognising the President’s efforts, while others described it as unnecessary and a waste of resources.
As the debate continues, the Federal Ministry of Works has not issued an official statement on the matter. However, sources within the ministry indicated that the directive was still being considered and that no final decision had been made. For now, the controversy over the Tinubu photographs on the First Niger Bridge has added to the growing political tension in Anambra State ahead of the 2027 elections.
